Abure and the decline of Nigeria’s Labour Party. By Asiegbu Agwu Nkpa

Special to USAfrica magazine (Houston) and USAfricaonline.com, the first Africa-owned, US-based newspaper published on the Internet Exclusivism and egocentrism are killer viruses in political party management. This is a truism now tragically unfolding in the Labour Party under Julius Abure’s command. Introduction: The Labour Party Crossroads The Labour Party (LP), once hailed as a rising third-force alternative in Nigeria’s democratic space, now finds itself in self-inflicted turmoil. At the heart of this degeneration is the party’s national chairman, Julius Abure, whose actions suggest not just a power grab but an intent to go down with the ship, dragging whatever is left of LP’s promise into irrelevance. His recent theatrics – particularly the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting where resolutions were reached to indict the party’s top political assets, Peter Gregory Obi and Governor Alex Chioma Otti, for anti-party activities – beg a simple question: Who really is the Labour Party without Obi and Otti? A political x-ray comparing the Labour Party without Obi and Otti versus Obi and Otti without the Labour Party exposes the vanity in Abure’s stubborn sit-tight mentality. It also casts a spotlight on a looming implosion that is neither ideological nor strategic – but driven by political greed. 1. Obi and Otti: Tenants in an Incomplete House Both Peter Obi and Alex Otti rented space in the Labour Party – and only out of necessity. Obi defected from the PDP in May 2022 over internal party control issues and fears of being stifled in the primaries. Otti, on the other hand, had earlier moved from APGA to LP in March 2022 due to APGA’s deep-rooted structural dysfunction and resistance to change. Let’s be clear: LP was merely a platform – not a movement. Obi brought the national movement (the Obidient Movement). Otti brought state level structure. Abure provided… a seat. Their presence in LP elevated its national prominence overnight, yet neither man was responsible for Abure’s legal troubles. His crisis of legitimacy stemmed from the Lamidi Bashir Apapa challenge – a dramatic leadership tussle seen by many as Tinubu-sponsored sabotage to neutralize Obi’s growing political momentum. This Tinubu infiltration theory isn’t far-fetched given Apapa’s brazen proximity to ruling party interests and the synchronized attacks on Obi’s presidential petition. Abure should know better as a lawyer and politician. 2. Otti’s Strategic Independence: Smart Politics, Not Treachery Governor Alex Otti’s decision to distance his political base from the chaotic national LP leadership was not betrayal – it was strategic survival. In the wake of unresolved LP internal crises and legal ambiguity over Abure’s chairmanship, Otti chose to shield his political capital. With the recent Abia State LGA election looming then, the prudent course was to deploy a legally intact platform devoid of risk of court-ordered disqualification. This decision reflects high-level political foresight, not disloyalty. Otti, governing in a terrain riddled with hostile political opposition from entrenched PDP and APC structures, had every reason to protect his mandate. And importantly, Obi showed tacit support or at least understanding of Otti’s approach – a sign of internal alignment between both men. 3. Obi’s Calculated Ambiguity: The Game at the National Level Peter Obi understands Nigeria’s political terrain. He knows that party loyalty is often fluid, fragile, and fleeting. The same Labour Party that sang his praises in 2022 could become a liability in 2026. Hence, Obi has operated with caution, keeping Abure at arm’s length while building his political network beyond LP’s fragile shell. Crucially, Obi’s ongoing grand coalition effort ahead of 2027 – involving other parties and third-force groups – is his personal political project, not the Labour Party’s initiative. This speaks volumes. Obi is increasingly seen as an independent political force, with the LP only a shell platform. As such, the real question is: Where does Julius Abure fit in Peter Obi’s coalition-building plans? Nowhere. Not because Obi is disloyal. But because Abure brings no value. Worse still, his brand has become politically toxic. 4. Abure’s Final Fall and the Supreme Court Slam Abure’s legal troubles climaxed with a Supreme Court judgment disqualifying his continuation as LP chairman – a verdict that should have triggered a graceful exit. But instead, he returned to organize a NEC meeting with what many describe as “pocket loyalists,” issuing vague resolutions against Obi and Otti. This is the behavior of a man chasing political irrelevance with the desperation of a drowning man pulling others under. It’s more about vendetta than vision – and such attitudes are cancerous to party survival. 5. 2027 Political Permutations: Obi, Otti, and the Coming Realignments The 2027 general election will not be business as usual. President Bola Tinubu will seek re-election by all means, damning the growing public discontent fueled by economic hardship, security setbacks, and policy failures. The North will want to negotiate power retention. The South-East will expect political reward for patience and participation. In this complex chessboard, Obi’s clean image, Otti’s technocratic success in Abia State, and a possible third-force coalition represent the real threat to Tinubu’s APC. Naturally, Tinubu’s strategists will do all they can to divide, neutralize, and decapitate this threat. That’s where Abure plays in – not as a builder, but as a pawn. His antics offer perfect distraction and disintegration for a party meant to symbolize change. If he continues this way, Labour Party will become the next ANPP – remembered only for what it could have been. 6. A Call for Party Reform or Rebirth If Labour Party is to survive beyond Abure’s scorched-earth politics, it must take urgent steps: • Conduct a legitimate, widely accepted national convention. • Purge the party of toxic personal cults. • Reaffirm its ideology as people-centered, not leader-centric. • Institutionalize a strategic alliance with reform-minded third forces. If not, Obi and Otti must consider birthing a new movement or political party – one not chained by old corrupt systems and characters clinging to relevance through chaos. Conclusion: The Circus Has a Clown, But the Kingdom Needs a King As the Turkish proverb says, “When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” Abure has turned the Labour Party into a circus – and the Nigerian people are not amused. Obi and Otti are not perfect, but they represent hope, a pathway to better politics, and a challenge to the status quo. The time for distraction is over. Nigeria’s democracy deserves real actors – not ringmasters. Author Bio: Asiegbu Agwu Nkpa is a freelance writer, author, political analyst, critic, and social advocate with a focused lens on African affairs – especially Nigeria. With decades of experience in international business and a steadfast commitment to the socio-political advancement of his homeland, he fuses practical knowledge with sharp critical insight to deliver compelling commentary on Christianity, humanity, governance, justice, and global affairs. Based in his hometown of Abiriba in Abia State, Nigeria – where he is actively developing his agribusiness and serving as a traditional ruler – Asiegbu is a vocal advocate for his community, the Igbo ethnic group, healthy Nigeria, and the broader African continent. His perspective is grounded in grassroots engagement and enriched by intellectual critique, creating a unique voice that challenges conventions and proposes meaningful reforms. A farmer and community leader, Asiegbu is deeply invested in confronting global inequalities, unraveling the intricacies of African political systems, and advancing sustainable solutions that empower African people. Among academic circles and admirers, he is often regarded as a rare erudite – an intellectual without the trappings of formal academia, yet endowed with a clarity of thought and purpose that resonates across cultural and ideological boundaries.